Summary Gator Lodge 67, Fraternal Order of Police, Inc. (FOP) is the exclusive collective bargaining representative of employees of the Alachua Police Department pursuant to Certification Number 1791 issued by the Florida Public Employees Relations Commission.
The FOP was challenged by internal administrative difficulties in 2014 to the extent it was unable to schedule meeting with the city beginning in June as called for in the continuing contract. Therefore, negotiations for fiscal year 2014/15 were not scheduled until 9-16, 10-7 and 12-17.
Agreement on all articles and issues was reached at the last meeting on December 17, 2014, the bargaining unit ratified the proposed agreement on January 5, 2015 and the Administration offers the Agreement for ratification by the City Commission at this regularly scheduled meeting on January 12, 2015.
Two copies, one containing changes to the existing contract by reflecting added language in red underline and deleted language in red strike through, are attached. Changes in compensation are consistent with the schedule recommended as a part of the study by the Kritzner Group adopted by the City Commission as a part of the FY 2015 budget process. Numerous other changes including clarification of management discretion, reduction in holiday compensation offset by increase in education reimbursement and adoption of lateral transfer within the police officer classification were accomplished.
Changes in the schedule of pay are effective (Article 26.4 H) beginning the first pay period after ratification by the City Commission. The contract changes are not retroactive to October 1, the beginning of the fiscal year.
The FOP has assured the City it will be available and participate in bargaining sessions in June of 2015 as required by the contract and as consistent with the law of Florida. |